Information recording/play-backing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Portable information recording/play-back arrangements, wherein a controller judges whether a mode, controlling a first recording/play-back module and second recording/play-back module, is an imaging mode or a dubbing mode, and wherein when the controller judges that the mode is the imaging mode, the controller controls so that the imaging module and the first or second recording/play-back module operate on battery or a power supply from an external power source; and when the controller judges that the mode is the dubbing mode and the first and second recording/play-back module operate on the power supply from the external power source, the controller controls so that the dubbing operation is permitted.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 11/367,382, filedMar. 6, 2006. This application relates to and claims priority fromJapanese Patent Application No. 2005-100501, filed on Mar. 31, 2005. Theentirety of the contents and subject matter of all of the above isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an information recording/play-backingapparatus.

The conventional technique provides, for example, a method forsimultaneously recording video or audio data in a plurality of channelson an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) in an HDD recorder or a method for recordingstill image information by two compression methods in a digital cameraor the like. For example, there is JP-A-09-284715.

Moreover, JP-A-2004-159225 discloses a method for performing dubbing bya recorder for a combination of a HDD and a DVD (Digital Video Disc) orstopping drive one of the HDD or the DVD by power saving.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Recently, video and audio in the world of video and audio information isdigitized and the compression technique of the video and audio data hasbeen significantly improved. A tape recording such as VTR (Video TapeRecorder) or VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) is being transferred to adisc recording such as a DVD and an HDD. As a representative of thistransfer, there is an HDD & DVD hybrid recorder in which HDD and a DVDdrive are mixed. For example, video or audio information from abroadcast station or an external input terminal is temporarily recordedon an HDD and after this recorded onto a DVD disc by backup when a userwants to store it. That is, so called dubbing is performed.

The hybrid recorder has been introduced onto a market by variouscompanies and the market is expected to develop into a large size.

Here, a HDD has a capacity of 80 GB to several hundreds of GB. However,a DVD disc has a capacity of about 4.7 GB. The DVD may be, for example,a DVD-Video as an optical disc for video such as a movie and a DVD-ROMapplied for recording application software, game software, various datafor use by a computer. Alternatively, there is a rewritable opticalrecording medium using an optical disc such as a DVD-RAM, DVD±RW, DVD±R,and the like for backup-recording personal information or for a DVDrecorder to replace the VTR. The aforementioned recorder temporarilyrecords the video or audio data transmitted from outside on a hard discand after this records it on a DVD disc for backup, thereby performingthe so-called dubbing.

On the other hand, in the market of home camera, medium change from atape recording to a disc recording has been started. A DVD camera usingan 8-cm DVD disc or an HDD camera using a small-size HDD as a recordingmedium are introduced to the market by various manufactures.

However, the disc cameras have merits and demerits. For example, the DVDcamera uses a removable medium and a recorded object can be kept as itis but the recording time is limited. For example, in the case of 8-cmDVD disc, the recording time is about one hour at the most per disc anda long-time recording cannot be performed. As for the HDD camera, an HDDdepends on the capacity but it generally has a capacity greater than the8-cm DVD disc by several times or several tens of times and can performa long-time recording.

However, the capacity is limited and the recorded data should bere-recorded onto another medium to be stored, which lowersuser-friendliness. Moreover, in either case of the DVD camera and theHDD camera, it is difficult to edit by using only one medium. Inrelation to this, like the HDD & DVD combination recorder, a small-sizeHDD may be put into the DVD camera. However, basically in the cameradriven by a battery, if both of the HDD and the DVD are driven, thebattery consumption becomes great and this is not realistic.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a video oraudio information recording/play-backing apparatus having both of an HDDwhich can be driven by a battery even when a small HDD is mounted on aDVD camera and an optical drive (for example, DVD or Blu-ray drive).

The aforementioned object may be achieved by the invention disclosed inclaims.

The video or audio information recording/play-backing apparatusaccording to the present invention performs control to save power of theLCD for performing display and an HDD and an optical drive forperforming recording which consume great power and stops power supplywhen there is no necessity.

The present invention can provide an information recording/play-backingdevice requiring a smaller power consumption.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the embodiments of theinvention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a power supply method according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a sequence of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a sequence of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a sequence of an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Description will now be directed to an embodiment of the presentinvention with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 shows an outline of the video or audio recording/play-backingapparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the imaging device 5 is formed by an imaging optical system2, a CCD (Charge Coupled Device; imaging element), and an A/D converter4. An object is image-formed on the CCD 3 by the imaging optical system2. A video signal is obtained by the CCD 3 and digitized by the A/Dconverter 4 for output. A reference numeral 6 denotes a video signalprocessor for converting a video signal from the imaging device 5 toimage data. The video signal processor 6 also processes an audioinformation signal from a microphone (not depicted) as audio informationsignal input device.

Moreover, during play-back, the video signal processor 6 converts theimage data from recording/play-back signal processor 7 which will bedetailed later into an image information signal for display output.Furthermore, the video signal processor 6 converts the audio data fromthe recording/play-back signal processor 7 into an audio informationsignal for audio output. In the case of a video camera, image data andaudio data are continuously processed by the video signal processor 6.Here, the image quality and the audio quality are determined by theprocessing capability of the video signal processor 6. The processingcapability determines the transfer rate of the data transmitted from thevideo signal processor 6 to the recording/play-back signal processor 7.

The recording/play-back signal processor 7 performs encode/decodeprocessing, modulation/demodulation processing, ECC (Error CorrectionCode) addition/error correction processing, and the like in order toconvert video data (including audio data) from the video signalprocessor 6 into recording data based on the recording format forrecording onto an optical drive (ODD) 11 for recording onto an HDD 10 ora DVD as a disc-shaped recording device or a Blu-ray disc; or in orderto convert the recording data reproduced from the ODD into the videodata (including the audio data).

The transfer rate of recording or play-back onto/from the disc-shapedrecording device is determined by the processing capability of therecording/play-back signal processor 7 and the disc-shaped recordingdevices 10 and 11. Numeral 9 denotes a memory for temporarily storingthe video data (including audio data) from the video signal processor 7.Accumulation in the memory is performed when the transfer rate of thevideo data or the audio data transferred from the video signal processor7 is faster than the speed of recording in the disc-shaped recordingdevices 10 and 11. Accordingly, recording in the disc-shaped recordingdevices 10 and 11 should be performed before the accumulation memory inthe memory exceeds the memory capacity.

Numeral 8 denotes a video display device formed by an LCD (Liquidcrystal Display) and the like. During play-back, the data from thedisc-shaped recording devices 10 and 11 is temporarily stored in thememory 9 and converted into the original video data by therecording/play-back signal processor 7 and displayed by this videodisplay device 8 via the video signal processor 6.

Numeral 12 denotes system controller formed by a control microcomputersupervising the entire device. This system controller 12 performscontrol of the respective units of the aforementioned devices and theentire system.

FIG. 2 shows configuration of power supply to the video or audiorecording/play-backing apparatus 1 according to the present invention.

The power supply includes an external power input terminal 20, acharging circuit 21, a battery 22, a power supply circuit 23 (DC-DCconverter), and power supply monitor 24. When power is supplied from theexternal power input terminal 20, the power supplied from the externalpower input terminal 20 is used to charge the battery 22 via thecharging circuit 21.

While external power is supplied, power is supplied from the chargingcircuit 21 via the power supply circuit 23 to each block. When noexternal power is connected, power from the battery 22 is supplied toeach block via the power supply circuit 23.

Here, the power supply monitor 24 serves as means for judging whether anexternal power supply is connected and the device is operated by theexternal power or by the battery 22 and transmitting the judgment resultto the controller 12. In FIG. 2 the power supply monitor 24 is expressedas independent means. On hardware, however, when it is clear from whichpower is inputted and to which power is outputted such as to the powersupply circuit 23 from the charging circuit 21, this can be used asmonitoring means.

Here, explanation will be given on one embodiment indicating one featureof the present invention with reference to FIG. 3. Since this device isbasically used outdoors such as a camera, reduction of power consumptionis a significant problem. Depending on the camera recording mode, it isjudged whether recording is performed on the HDD 10 or the optical drive11 and according to the judgment result, power saving is set in eachdrive. Basically, the following three modes are available as camerarecording modes.

That is, an imaging mode for actually imaging an object, an edition modefor editing the imaged information, and a dubbing mode for copyinginformation from the HDD existing as a combination system of HDD &optical drive to the optical drive or from the optical drive to the HDD.

In step S1, the controller 12 judges in which state is the recordingmode. Step 2 judges whether the mode is imaging mode. If Yes, control ispassed to step S4, where it is judged whether the mode is recording ontothe HDD or recording onto the optical drive 11. If the mode is recordingonto the HDD 10, control is passed to step S5, where power supply to theoptical drive side is suppressed or control is performed to set theoptical drive to power saving mode.

When step 4 judges that the mode is recording onto the optical drive,control is passed to step S6, where power supply to the HDD issuppressed or control is performed to set the HDD to power saving mode.After this, actual imaging is performed in step S9.

When step 2 judges that the mode is not imaging mode, control is passedto step S3. In this case, the mode may be the edition mode or thedubbing mode. In either mode, the HDD 10 and the optical drive 11 areoperating. Accordingly, power supply cannot be suppressed or setting topower saving mode cannot be performed. However, it is possible to modifythe power supply method depending on whether the mode is the editionmode or the dubbing mode. This judgment is performed in step S3.

In step S3, if the mode is the edition mode, control is passed to step 7(processing of FIG. 4) which will be detailed later. If the mode isjudged to be the dubbing mode, control is passed to step 8 (processingof FIG. 5) which will be detailed later.

FIG. 4 shows detailed processing performed when step S3 in FIG. 3 judgesthat the mode is the edition mode.

Here, during an edition, information cut, movement and re-recording tothe optical drive 11 are performed while checking information recorded,for example, on an HDD to be edited by using an LCD 8, which requires alarge power consumption. Accordingly, the HDD 10, the optical drive 11,and the LCD 8 which are the three parts requiring large powerconsumption operate and accordingly, an external power source capable ofsupplying a sufficient power is basically required. On the contrary,when an edition is performed by using a battery, the battery consumptionamount increases and it is expected that the battery capacity becomeszero in the middle of the edition. This is not preferable for the userand this should be prevented.

Step S10 in FIG. 4 judges whether the power supply for operating thedevice is from the battery 22 or the external power terminal 20. Whenstep S11 judges that the device is operated by the external powersupply, sufficient power supply can be obtained and step S12 permitsedition processing so that edition can be performed.

After this, in step S14, the edition processing is performed. When thedevice is operated by the battery 22, step 13 requests the user tomodify the power supply. More specifically, step 13 causes the LCD 8 todisplay “this operation cannot be connected to the battery. Connect theoperation to external power supply.” so as to prompt the user to inputexternal power supply and step S15 performs edition inhibit processing,thereby terminating the processing.

FIG. 5 shows the detailed processing performed when step S3 in FIG. 3judges that the mode is dubbing mode.

Here, for dubbing, information recorded on, for example, an HDD issimply copied to the optical drive 11. Basically, the LCD 8 need not beoperated. Accordingly, only the two parts which requires a large powerconsumption are only two, i.e., the HDD 10 and the optical drive 11.Accordingly, when a certain battery capacity is assured, the recordingcan be performed.

Moreover, basically, the dubbing is not continuous dubbing of a plentyof discs. After recording is performed on a disc, the disc is replacedwith another. The battery remaining amount should be checked for each ofthe discs. That is, the power consumption required for one disc need beconsidered. Accordingly, when a certain battery remaining amount ispresent, the dubbing can be performed by the battery drive.

Step 10 in FIG. 5 judges whether the power supply for operating thedevice is from the battery 22 or from the external power terminal 20,i.e., external power supply. When step S11 judges that the device isoperated by the external power supply, sufficient power is supplied andstep S17 permits dubbing so that dubbing can be performed. After this,step S18 performs dubbing.

When the power is supplied from the battery 22, step S16 checks thebattery remaining amount. When the remaining amount is not smaller thana threshold value, step S17 permits dubbing processing so that dubbingis performed. When the remaining amount is below the threshold value,there is a high possibility that recording is stopped during the dubbingand step S18 performs dubbing inhibit processing, thereby terminatingthe processing. The battery remaining amount of step S16 may beperformed by monitoring the battery use time or supply voltage from thebattery.

Moreover, the dubbing permission processing of step S17 includes aprocess for stopping the power to the LCD 8 after the selection of thedubbing mode until the actual dubbing is started or the process toperform LCD power saving control. Depending on the battery remainingamount, the power saving control to reduce the LCD back light intensitymay be performed when operating the LCD. Especially, when operated bythe battery, the LCD back light intensity is reduced for power saving.

As has been described above, the video or audio informationrecording/play-backing apparatus according to the present inventionperforms power saving control of the LCD for performing display, the HDDand the optical drive for performing recording which requires a largepower consumption and stops power supply when not required.

For example, when performing imaging outdoors which requires batterydrive, imaging is performed while looking at the LCD. Accordingly, onlythe HDD is operated for recording and the operation of the optical driveis stopped. Alternatively, only the optical drive is operated and theoperation of the HDD is stopped.

For example, during edition, a scene is selected from the informationrecorded on the HDD and recorded on the optical drive. Accordingly, auser usually looks at the display screen such as the LCD when performingthe edition. That is, the LCD of the display device, the HDD, and theoptical drive requiring a large power consumption are simultaneouslyoperating. When only the battery is used for power supply, the batterycapacity is significantly reduced. Accordingly, the operation ispermitted only by using the external power supply.

For example, when play-backing/displaying for the condition check, i.e.,when the LCD display is performed, a large current is consumed andaccordingly, the operation is permitted only by the external powersupply.

As has been described above, the present invention may be applied to thevideo or audio recording/play-backing apparatus such as a hybrid DVDcamera using the combination of the HDD and the DVD or the Blu-raycamera which will soon be brought into the market.

It should be further understood by those skilled in the art thatalthough the foregoing description has been made on embodiments of theinvention, the invention is not limited thereto and various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention and the scope of the appended claims.

1. An portable information recording/play-back apparatus comprising: animaging module which images video information; a firstrecording/play-back module which records the video information into afirst recording medium, or plays-back the video information from thefirst recording medium; a second recording/play-back module whichrecords the video information into a second recording medium, orplays-back the video information from the second recording medium; anexternal power source input terminal through which power is suppliablefrom outside; a battery; and a controller which controls at least theimaging module, the first and second recording/play-back module, whereinthe controller judges whether a mode, controlling the firstrecording/play-back module and the second recording/play-back module, isan imaging mode, controlling so that the first recording/play-backmodule or the second recording/play-back module records a videoinformation imaged by the imaging module into the first recording mediumor the second recording medium, or a dubbing mode which controls adubbing operation, the first recording/play-back module plays back avideo information from the first recording medium and the secondrecording/play-back module recording the video information which isplay-backed from the first recording medium into the second recordingmedium; when the controller judges that the mode is the imaging mode,the controller controls so that the imaging module and the first orsecond recording/play-back module operate on the battery or the powersupply from the external power source; and when the controller judgesthat the mode is the dubbing mode and the first and secondrecording/play-back module operate on the power supply from the externalpower source, the controller controls so that the dubbing operation ispermitted.
 2. The portable information recording/play-back apparatus asclaimed in claim 1 comprising: a display which displays the videoinformation; wherein the controller controls so that when the dubbingoperation is performed in the state of the dubbing mode, the displaydisplays the video information which is play-backed from the firstrecording medium.
 3. The portable information recording/play-backapparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the display is an LCD.
 4. Theportable information recording/play-back apparatus as claimed in claim1, wherein the second recording medium is a removable media.
 5. Theportable information recording/play-back apparatus as claimed in claim1, wherein the first recording medium is a hard disk, and the secondrecording medium is an optical disk.